![]() But rather than wrap the tree horizontally, Tur recommends illuminating each branch from trunk to tip and back before moving to the next branch, following a spoke pattern. ![]() Light Every Single Branch Just like on a real Christmas tree, you’ll want to start from the bottom to keep that extension cord in check (remember to keep those lights on as you work, too).For a standard six-foot tree, Tur recommends that you devote six sets of lights for the bottom portion, five sets for the middle, and three sets for the top. Prepare Your Lights Many artificial trees will be divided into three sections.They’re malleable, they’re naturally even, and-the best part-once you’ve illuminated them, you can leave the lights on year after year. Remember: Faux Does Not Mean Faux-Pas Though some people swear by a freshly cut Tannenbaum, Tur actually prefers working with artificial trees.Your future self will thank you next Christmas.Įvgenii Kryvoruchko / EyeEm // Getty Images When the Holidays Are Over “Start from the top and go all the way down,” she says, and-rather than wadding the attached strings into one gigantic ball-be sure to make small bundles as you work your way down and put them in your boxes.“Check if the lights are distributed evenly before you continue to go up,” Tur says. Step Back As you bling out those branches, make sure to frequently pause and view your tree in its entirety to ensure that it has a uniform glow.Tur recommends keeping your lights illuminated as you work, a tactic that will help you avoid outages and also allow you to gauge your tree’s brightness in real time. Wind the Lights Around Your Tree Horizontally Gradually begin wrapping the lights around your tree, working your way up.Start from the Bottom Up “Always,” Tur says, “because you have your outlet at the bottom, so you don’t have to run extension cords from the top.”.It will save you a huge headache later, Tur assures us. Check If the Lights Work Plug each strand into an outlet before even touching the tree.“It depends what you want your tree to look like,” Tur says. Pro Tip: For a megawatt tree, you can do another layer of larger bulbs (G50s or G40s are festive options) at the branch extremities, or save that space for ornaments. Get Out Your Lights To achieve the twinkliest of trees, Tur recommends using 13 sets of mini lights for a standard six-foot-tall tree.If you do opt for them, “I would not recommend leaving the tree plugged in if you’re going out somewhere, because it’s dangerous.” ![]() “People love to use incandescent lights still-the type of lights that get hot super easily,” she says. Tur also endorses using LED bulbs, which are not only brighter but pose fewer safety risks than old-school incandescent bulbs. “You can add C9 bulbs, G50s, G40s, if you want it to look different, but to make it bright, I would recommend the mini lights first.” “These help your tree look bright,” she says. Tur also advises working with mini lights, in lieu of larger bulbs. Not only are these kinds of string lights readily available virtually everywhere during the holiday season (you can also pick the color or light temperature you want), the green wire handily helps the strands disappear into your boughs. “These are the most comfortable to work with.” Whether you are lighting an artificial tree or the real McCoy, “the best lights to use are green wire lights with six-inch spacing, 50 bulbs per string,” Tur says. While, in her case, achieving holiday magic can be a herculean effort (to the tune of thousands upon thousands of lights along Fifth Avenue), she reminds us: “To see peoples’ reactions is worth everything.” Here’s how to create your own Christmas to remember this year. Tur’s Christmas season essentially begins as soon as the previous one wraps. Enter Victoriya Tur, the production manager for American Christmas, a professional lighting company that has been illuminating some of the country’s most iconic holiday landmarks-such as Rockefeller Center’s dazzling angels and Cartier’s glittering Manhattan flagship-since 1968. To save our sanity (and maybe even our relationships) this year, we decided to turn to the professionals for help. But before the fun can begin, of course, you need to illuminate your tree, a task that can be-let’s face it-not so merry and bright due to tangled strands, burned-out bulbs, spousal squabbling, or Clark Griswold–level fiascos. For us decor-aholics, festooning a Christmas tree with baubles, ribbons, tinsel, keepsakes, and-yes-even lobsters, ranks among the most treasured of holiday traditions.
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